‘Ender’s Game’ First Look: Ben Kingsley’s a Tatted-Up War Vet

Millions of movie fans are going to get to see the great Ben Kingsley ham it up as the villainous Mandarin in 'Iron Man 3' when it opens this Friday, but he has another big performance coming our way in 2013. The Oscar-winning thespian is playing the role of war hero Mazer Rackham in Gavin Hood's upcoming adaptation of 'Ender's Game' and our first look at the character has arrived.

In Orson Scott Card's classic sci-fi novel, Rackham is described as being half-Maori and it looks like the film has embraced the character's heritage in a big way. Although Kingsley appears to be wearing a traditional (albeit futuristic) military uniform, his face is covered with tribal tattoos, which, according to EW, contain the history of Rackham's struggles and victories. Kingsley apparently worked with a Maori expert to make sure the details were just right.

Talking too much about Mazer Rackham would give away some of the film's biggest surprises, so we'll just say that he's a veteran soldier who helped repel an alien invasion before the events of 'Ender's Game.' How he gets involved with child soldier prodigy Ender Wiggins (Asa Butterfield) and his turbulent experience in "battle school" is something you'll have to discover when the film comes out. Or you could just, you know, read the book.

'Ender's Game' opens this November 1 and the first trailer is hitting May 7! In the meantime, what do you think of Kingsley's unique look?